Jeanerette community leaders organized a prayer rally Monday evening to offset the violence in the community following a recent death that took place last week.

Twenty-two year old O’Shaun Smith was killed last week near Church and Pellerin Street, which led to two juveniles being arrested in connection to the crime. 

Local religious leaders, as well as civic and religious leaders around Acadiana, took to the pavilion on Main Street Monday evening to pray for the family who was suffering as well as all of the young people in the area who are caught up in cycles of violence. 

“We have to come up with solutions as adults,” organizer Trevonta Barlow said. “I see a huge disconnect with our kids, they don’t have anyone to show them the way, they don’t have positive influences in their lives.”

Members who spoke up to address the violence in the community included Mayor Carol Bourgeois Jr. and the Rev. Wilfred Johnson. New Iberia City Councilman Warren White also showed up to the event to show support for local families and members of the Jeanerette community. 

The large group situated in downtown Jeanerette made a circle with the family of Smith in the center, and an emotional prayer was held to give support to the grieving family members as well as all who were mourning in Jeanerette as a result of the incident.